Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has called on Igbos to set aside what he described as emotional reactions to the conviction of Nnamdi Kanu, insisting that only a calm, political approach can resolve the lingering crisis in the south-east.
Speaking during a television programme on Sunday, the Abia North senator said the backlash trailing Kanu’s life imprisonment has been driven more by sentiment than sober reflection. He warned that such emotional responses risk overshadowing the scale of devastation the region has suffered over the years.
“I want Igbos to stop being emotional,” Kalu said. “This is not the time for noise-making. It’s a time to reflect and find a political way forward. Over 30,000 Igbos have been killed in this crisis, yet people focus only on their emotions and not the full cost.”
Kalu lamented that discussions about the crisis often centre on attacks against security personnel while ignoring the thousands of civilian deaths and the collapse of countless businesses across the south-east.
He narrated how his mother’s friend, who owed her N4.2 million, was driven into bankruptcy when her rice shop was destroyed. “Nobody talks about victims like that woman. Emotions alone won’t solve this problem,” he said.
The former governor urged political actors and supporters to de-escalate tensions and embrace dialogue with the federal government. He referenced earlier proposals by Bianca Ojukwu and Mike Uzor Kalu, saying the region should “focus on settlement, not sentiments.”
Kalu revealed that he has been quietly working with the federal government to chart a political path that could eventually lead to Kanu’s release. “We need to humble ourselves, go on our knees, and negotiate. That is what will bring results,” he added.
He also defended Justice James Omotosho, the judge who sentenced Kanu, stressing that emotional attacks on the judiciary are misplaced. “If you are displeased, go to the appellate court. Insulting a judge because of emotions is wrong,” he said.
Kalu criticised Kanu for what he described as unruly conduct during trial proceedings, contrasting it with his own composure when he was once sentenced to 12 years in prison. “I never insulted the judge. A court is not a place for emotional outbursts,” he said.
Kanu was handed a life sentence on five counts, along with additional 20-year and five-year terms on charges related to terrorism and illegal importation of a communication device. The court ruled that his threats and sit-at-home orders constituted terrorist acts under Nigerian law.
Kalu insisted that reacting with emotion will only deepen the crisis. “Let us calm down and pursue a political solution. That is the only way forward,” he said.